Lighting system



2 '1, 9 A. A. BLUEMLE HAL 2,292,685

LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed April 4, 1941 "III" "II"! s 3 rxmfafszzemle 6m! William Edi-I Drown B M Ma vi li.-

ibeir ATTORNEY-S Patented Aug. 11, 1942 LIGHTING SYSTEM Arnold A. Bluemle and William Earl Brown, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application April 4, 1941, Serial No. 386,916

9 Claims.

This invention relates to electric lighting circuits, particularly for automobile use. It has been the practice to protect the automobile head lamp circuits by single overload circuit breakers such as a fuse or a bi-metallic switch. In such installation if one head lamp circuit is overloaded due to accidental grounding, then both head lamps are extinguished when the fuse blows out.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for a separated fusing to the head lamp circuits while at the same time providing for dimming the head lamps by the use of a single dimmer switch unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide for automatically switching to another head lamp circuit when one of the head lamp circuits blows out, for example, if one of the light filaments of a head lamp blows out then the dim filaments of both head lamps will burn. While automatic switching of filament circuits is per se an old expedient it is believed to be novel in combination with the separate fusing of the head lamp circuits and with the use of a single dimmer switch unit.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are wiring diagrams illustrating different embodiments of the present invention.

In all of the figures numeral 28 designates the head lamp having bright or main beam filaments 2i and dim or depressed beam filaments 22. Numerals 23 indicate the parking lamps and 24 is the tail lamp. In each of the figures a battery 25 which is grounded is connected with terminals 26 and 2'! of a lighting switch 28. Switch 28 includes a movable contact 29 movable from an off position 29' shown in dot-dash lines to on position in full lines wherein it bridges contacts 3i! and 3|. Contact 30 is connected with terminal 25 by fuse or other overload protecting device 32. Switch 28 includes another mo able contact 33 having an on position shown in full lines wherein it bridges contacts 34, 35, and 3B and having an intermediate on position indicated. by dot-dash line 33' wherein it breaks contacts 36 and 3]. Contact 34 is connected with terminal 2'! by fuse or other overload protector 38. Contact 36 is connected by a wire 39 with tail lamp 24. Contact 31 is connected by Wires 40 and 4| with parking lamp 23. In Fig. 4, the switch 28 has a contact 42 connected by strap 43 with contacts 34.

The movable contacts 29 and 33 of switch 28 are connected to a single operating member 280.. Contacts 29 and 33 have a full off position to the left of the dot-dash-line positions shown, an intermediate position shown in dot-dash lines and full on position shown in full lines.

In Fig. 1 the head lamps are dimmed by individual switches 59 contained in a single housing and operated by a single member 59a. The dimmer 58 comprises movable contacts 5| each in the form of an equi-lateral triangle and each operable to bridge contacts 52 and 53 in one position of the movable contact and contacts 54 and 55 in the next position. Contacts 52 and 54 are connected by strap 56. When contacts 52 and 53 are connected by the movable contact 5| as shown in full lines, the head lamp bright filaments 2| will be connected by battery 25 thru movable switch contact 29 shown in full on position and by the fuse 32. Similarly the left hand head lamp is connected by contacts SI of the dimmer switch and by contact 33 in the full on position and by the fuse 38. When the two movable contacts 5| of the dimmer switch unit are moved into the dot-dash line position 5!, the head light dim or depressed beam filaments 22 will be connected to the battery by fuses 32 and 38, respectively. The lighting system shown in Fig. 1 provides separate fuse protection for each head lamp. If the right hand head lamp should become overloaded and fuse 32 should melt, the left hand head lamp will remain operative.

In the circuit shown in Fig. 2, the bright or high beam filaments 2! of the two head lamps 20 are connected in parallel and both in series with a dimmer switch and with one of the fuses. Similarly the bright or low beam filaments 22 of the two head lamps are connected in parallel and both in series with the switch 60 and one of the fuses. If one of the fuses blows out both lamps cease burning until the foot dimmer switch 6!] is operated to turn on the other set of filaments. Switch 66 comprises stationary contacts 6| connected with contact 35 of switch 28, a contact 62 connected with the head lamp dim beam filaments 22, a contact 63 connected with the high lamp bright beam filaments 2|, and a contact 64 connected with contact 3-! of switch 28. Dimmer switch til includes a movable contact 65 in the form of equi-lateral triangle and adapted to bridge contacts El and 63 in one position shown in full lines, and contacts 62 and 64 in the dot-dash position 65. When contact 65 is in the full line position the bright beam filaments 2| are connected to the dimmer switch contact 65 and thru the main switch contact 33 and fuse 38 with the battery. If the fuse 38 should blow out both head lamp filaments 3| will cease to burn. Then if the dimmer switch contact 65 is moved into position 65' the head lamp dim filaments 22 will burn since they are connected with the battery thru the dimmer switch 68, contact 29 of switch 28, and fuse 32.

The lighting system shown in Fig. 3 provides separate fusing of the high beam circuit and of the low beam circuit of the head lamp as 01 Fig. 2 and also for automatically switching from the high beam circuit to the low beam circuit in case the fuse blows out in the high beam circuit. In Fig. 3 the dimmer switch 18 does not directly control the head lamp filament circuits s but indirectly thru a relay 88. Switch I8 comprises an insulated contact II and a grounded contact I2 to be bridged by movable contact when in the full line position I3 or to be disconnected when the movable contact is in the position I3. Relay 88 comprises a frame 8| supporting a core 82 surrounded by a coil 83 grounded on the frame which is connected by wire 84 with contact 3| of switch 28. The other end of coil is connected by wire 85 with dimmer switch contact II. Frame 8| carries an armature hinge 86 supporting an armature 81. Arma ture 81 carries contact 88 for engaging contact 89 connected by wire 98 with the two bright filaments 2|. Armature 81 insulatingly supports a contact 9| connected by wire 92 with contact of switch 28. Contact 9| normally engages contact 93 connected with dim filaments 22. When the contact I3 of dimmer switch I8 is in the on position (shown in full lines) the relay coil 83 will be connected with the battery through the contact 29 of switch 28 and fuse 32. The armature 81 will be pulled down to close contacts 88, 89 thereby connecting the head lamp bright filaments 2| with the battery thru fuse 32. If fuse 32 should blow relay coil 83 will be disconnected from the battery and armature 81 will move upwardly to separate contact 88 from contact 89 and to bring contact 9| into engagement with contact 93 thereby connecting the head lamp dim filaments 22 with the battery thru contact 33 of switch 28 and fuse 38. If fuse 32 does not blow but the driver wishes to dim the head lamp, he moves the dimmer switch contact I3 to dot-dash line position 13a thereby disconnecting relay coil 83 from the battery whereupon the dim filaments 22 are connected with the battery.

Fig. 4 provides for fuse protection as in Figs. 2 and 3 and also for automatically switching on the dim filament circuit in case the bright filament circuit is interrupted, and for switching on the bright filament circuit in case the dim filament circuit is interrupted. For this purpose there is provided a relay I88 having a core |8| surrounded by two magnet coils I82 and I83 wound in such manner that, when both are energized, the magnetic effect of one operates the magnetic effect of the other so that the relay armature I84 is not attracted toward the core. Armature I84 which is connected with the bright filaments 2| carries a contact I85 normally separated from contact I86 connected with one end of relay coil I82 and with a wire |8'| connected with contact 35 of switch 28. Armature I84 insulatingly supports a contact II8 normally engaging a contact III connected with dim filaments 22. Contact H8 is connected by wire II2 with contact 3| of switch 28 and by wire I I3 with relay coil I83 connected by wire II4 with contact II6 of dimmer switch II5. Switch II5 includes grounded stationary contacts Ill and H8 connected by strap H9, and also stationary contacts I28 and |2| connected by strap I22 and by wire I23 with relay coil I82. Dimmer switch I I5 comprising a triangle shaped movable contact having a full line I24 and dot-dash line position I24. When it is desired to burn the head lamp bright the dimmer switch H5 is actuated so that its movable contact is in the full line position I24. The following circuit is completed: battery 25, terminal 21, fuse 38, contact 33 of switch 28. wire I81, relay coil I82, wire I23, contact I2I, contact I24, contact H8, and ground to battery. Under these conditions the relay coil I83 is not energized; therefore coil I82 alone is effective and it causes the armature I84 to move downwardly to connect contacts I and I86, and to cause the head lamp bright filaments 2| to be connected with the battery thru the contact 33 of switch 28 and fuse 38. When it is desired to dim the head lamp the switch H5 is actuated so that its movable contact comes into the position I24 whereby both coils I82-483 of relay I88 are caused to be connected with the battery I25. Since both coils I82-|83 are energized at the same time and since they produce magnetism of opposite polarity, there is no attraction of armature I84 downwardly; and contact |I8 remains in its position of normal engagement with the contact III. Therefore the dim filaments 22 are both connected with the battery 25 thru the switch contact 29 and fuse 32.

Assume that the dim filament circuit becomes overloaded and fuse 32 blows out. Then relay coil I83 is disconnected from the battery but coil I82 remains connected with the battery. Therefore armature I84 moves downwardly to cause contact I85 to engage contact I86 thereby connecting the bright filaments with the battery. Assume that both fuses are operative and that the dimmer switch |I5 has been actuated to cause the head lamp bright filaments 2| to be connected with the batter as the result of moving contact of switch 5 to the full line position I24. As stated before such operation of the dimmer switch causes relay coil I82 to be connected with the battery to cause contacts I85 and I86 to engage. In case fuse 38 in the bright filament blows out, relay I82 will become deenergized and the armature I84 will be released and contacts I85 and I86 will be separated and contacts 8 and III will engage. Then the headlamp dim filaments 22 will be connected with the battery.

From the foregoing description of the construction and method of operation of various embodiments of the present invention it is apparent that I have provided for the control of the bright and dim filaments of the head lamps and also for the separate fusing of the head lamps as in Fig. 1 and for the separate fusing of the bright and dim filament circuits as in Figs. 2. 3 and 4. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, I provide also for the automatic switching from bright to dim filaments in case the fuse of the bright filament circuit blows. In Fig. 4 I provide not only for automatic switching from bright to dim in case the fuse of the bright filament circuit blows out, but also for automatic switching from dim to bright in case the fuse of the dim filament circuit blows out.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An automobile lighting system comprising a current source, head lamps having high beam or bright filaments and low beam or dim filaments, a plurality of switches for connecting the source with the lamps and for distributing current to the filaments in groups, thermal circuit breakers connected in parallel and each in series with one of the switches for protecting the groups of filaments, and means connected between the filaments and the switches for selectively effecting the connecting of the bright or the dim filaments with the current source.

2. An automobile lighting system comprising a current source, head lamps having high beam or bright filaments and low beam or dim filaments, a mechanically connected pair of switches adaptedto be operated in one position for connecting the source with the lamps and for distributing current to the filaments in groups, thermal circuit breakers arranged in parallel with respect to each other and each in series with the source and one of said switches for protecting the groups K of filaments, means connected between both switches and both filaments for selectively connecting the bright or the dim filaments with the current source, and means for automatically switching to another group of filaments in case the circuit of one group becomes interrupted.

3. An automobile lighting system comprising a current source, head lamps having high beam or bright filaments and low beam or dim filaments, a pair of switches operable in unison and arranged in parallel with respect to each other for connecting the source with the lamps and for distributing current to the bright filaments as a group and to the dim filaments as a group, thermal circuit breakers arranged in parallel with respect to each other and each in series with the source and one of the switches for protecting the groups of filaments and means for selectively efiecting the connection of the bright or the dim filaments with the current source.

4. An automobile lighting system comprising a current source, head lamps having high beam or bright filaments and low beam or dim filaments, a pair of switches for connecting the source with the lamps and for distributing current to the bright filaments as a group and to the dim filaments as a group, thermal circuit breakers connected in parallel and each in series with the source and one of said switches for protecting the groups of filaments, means for selectively effecting the connection of the bright or the dim filaments with the current source and means for automatically switching from the bright filament circuit to the dim filament circuit in case the bright filament circuit becomes interrupted.

5. An automobile lighting system comprising a current source, head lamps having high beam or bright filaments and low beam or dim filaments, a mechanically connected pair of switches adapted to be operated in one position for connecting the source with the lamps and for distributing current to the bright filaments as a group and to the dim filaments as a group, thermal circuit breakers connected in parallel and each in series with the source and one of said switches for protecting the groups of filaments, means for selectively effecting the connection of the bright or the dim filaments with the current source, and means for automatically switching from the bright filament circuit to the dim filament circuit in case the bright filament circuit becomes interrupted and for automatically switching from the dim filament circuit to the bright filament circuit in case the dim filament circuit becomes interrupted.

6. A system according to claim 4 in which said automatic switching means includes a relay having a magnet coil whose connection with the source is controlled by the means for selectively effecting the connection of the bright or dim filaments with the current source.

'7. A system according to claim 5 in which said automatic switching means includes a relay having magnet coils of opposite polarity and in which the connection of one or both of said magnet coils with the source is controlled by the means for selectively efiecting the connection of the bright or dim filaments with the current source.

8. An automobile lighting system comprising a current source, a head lamp having a bright filament and a dim filament; an independent switch for each filament, thermal current circuit breakers connected in parallel and each in series with the source and one of the independent switches; selective switch means associated with both of the independent switches and both of the filaments, said selective switch means effecting the optional connecting of the bright filaments or the dim filament with the current source.

9. An automobile lighting system conprising a current source, a head lamp having a bright filament and a dim filament; an independent switch for each filament, thermal current circuit breakers connected in parallel and each in series with the source and one of the independent switches; selective switch means associated with both of the independent switches and both of the filaments, said selective switch means effecting the optional connecting of the current source with the bright filament through one of the severally connected thermal current circuit breakers and independent switches in one position and the connecting of the dim filament through another of the severally connected thermal current circuit breakers and independent switch in another position.

ARNOLD A. BLUEMLE. WILLIAM EARL BROWN. 

